Fall 2011 issue of Horizons

Contractors

in technology and process improvements have a tendency to be placed toward the bottom of management’s plans. However, contractors should evaluate the potential benefits that can be derived and whether these benefits exceed the costs involved. When considering an investment in technology, management typically has a few standard questions: • Can we enhance the efficiencies of our operations? • Can we improve the productivity of our employees? • Can we improve the level of service to our customers? • What will the technology cost and do the benefits outweigh the costs? • What level of effort is required to implement the technology in terms of employees’ time and resources? Considering the financial condition of many contractors, the most common concern to address is the issue of the upfront capital required (both in terms of time and money) in order to purchase these technologies. What many companies have found is significant capital outlays are not necessary for many of the construction technologies and process improvements that will be discussed. Contractors should consider the following after evaluation of each application’s costs and benefits. Mobile Technologies A majority of employee time is spent out of the office performing construction services at jobsites and various other service calls for maintenance. Mobile technologies allow remote employees to communicate with the office. Important information such as customer inquiries, work orders, change orders, service calls, etc. can be communicated in real time back and forth between the remote location and the office. This improved

communication allows everyone involved with a job to make quality decisions based on the most accurate and up-to-date information available.

Equipment Tracking Applications Equipment is obviously a significant investment for most contractors. For contractors experiencing rising equipment costs, the efficient use of any purchased asset is critical. Certain equipment- tracking applications track the location of assets through the use of GPS technology, providing for greater control of that equipment. These applications can also track maintenance records as well as various utilization data by job and employee. These applications can minimize downtime for equipment by proactively preventing significant future repairs. They can also help management determine where the equipment can best be utilized within the company. Integrated Project Management Solutions On a daily basis, project managers balance delivering a quality construction product, serving customers, meeting schedules and deadlines, and managing cost budgets. Integrating a project management system with a company’s accounting system is critical for any contractor that strives to manage costs of construction and to drive efficiency. Many project managers still do not have immediate access to accounting and project cost information while they are in the field. By giving project managers the tools they need to access real-time data and communicate with financial management personnel, decisions can be made that can improve overall project efficiency and profitability.

Business Intelligence Tools Driving Process Improvement

Do project managers ever mention that the reports they are given are difficult to understand, contain too much or too little data, or are not representative of their job’s status? Business intelligence tools aim to clarify the data accumulated within a

Raise Your Expectations

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